Website and E-mail Problems

To make matters worst this computer had crashed. So I had to restore it manually. Meaning I lost many of the programs that I didn't know I depended upon, but I do.

For several days I could not even email anyone for help or contact customer service to alert them that my web-server was off-line.

Now that the computer is restored and the email issue is solved. I am working, frustratingly, with the web support people who handle my server. If you can read this page the web server must be fixed, too...

Oh the joys of maintaining a web site from a remote locale...

When the Mailboat Comes In
All supplies arrive at the smaller Cays in the Bahamas by boat or small airplane.

Twice a week the mailboat stops at Little Farmers Cay. It carries supplies on the trip south from Nassau.

It stops again to pick-up the mail on the return trip north to Nassau from the Ragged Islands that lie in the Southern Bahamas.

First of February

One of the restuarants on the Cay is run by th Percenties Family. They also run the grocery store and a fun little bar, all located in a tight little compound near the government dock and post office.

Another of the restaurants on the island is Ocean Cabin, run by Terry and Ernestine Bain. Fun loving people. Terry is charismatic and very much focused on business, collecting money for mooring balls, tee-shirts, island flags, festival events and operating the restaurant and bar.

Then there is the Farmers Cay Yacht Club, that is owned and opererated by Roosevelt Nixon. Mr. Nixon is a decendant of the orginal settlers on the island. His gracious manner and charm is reflected also by his family and staff at the large comfortably appointed Yacht Club.

I am somewhat of a novelty around here, because not many American Blacks do what I'm doing... I get many questions asking why more 'American Brothers' do not sail. I don't know why. It is ashame, though. There is so much out here to see and Black Americans have much in common with those who live on these small Cays that the tour ships don't reach.

I found it interesting that many of the cruisers (folks traveling aboard their own boats) don't associate (socialize) much with the local Bahamians. Jill and I fell into that at first... hangin' and partyin' only with other cruisers. Hell, we can do that along the Intra-Coastal Waterway back in the States.

Ever since we got to central Exumas... Sampson Cay, Stanial Cay, Blackpoint and now Little Farmers Cay, we have met some very nice, hard working, fun-loving, curious, intelligent, well-spoken, honest, and friendly Bahamians.

We met Van, whose nick-name is Smashie, working as a gardener on Sampson's Cay. His home is Blackpoint. When we got to Blackpoint we found Smashie is also a well respected boatbuilder and sailboat captain who will sail in the 5 F's Regatta and is expected to win the trophy for Blackpoint Cay.

The 5 F's stands for the Little Farmers First Friday in February Festival. People from all over the Bahamas will be here for that. We are here already because it is a good place to hide from strong west winds... and we are expecting strong westerlies Tuesday. So we are at Little Farmers early and have a good mooring for Shibumi.

We left Blackpoint Sunday morning. That is another classic Bahamian Community/village. Saturday night we went to a Bar-B-Q at Lorraine's Cafe. We had to go there just because of the name. Bahamian Lorraine and, my sister, St. Lucian Lorraine would get along great. The bar-b-q turned into a terrific party. There were a lot of cruiser's from the U.S. and Canada, but many locals too. Lorraine cooked up bar-b-q chicken and ribs with rice and vegetables... some guys brought guitars and folks sang. Lorraine and her husband had a good night that night.

Smashie's son Stanley, was there. He did not have a good day. Stanley is a fisherman by trade. Most of the fish are being taken by visiting cruisers. Some of whom don't even know what type fish they are taking. Their boat freezers are over-stuffed. They often don't know how, or take the time, to clean the fish. A lot of fish are wasted. But Stanley did not complain. He simply said he did not have a good day. So Lorraine, who is one of Stanley's clients, had to do chicken and ribs instead of fish yesterday. She did not complain, either.

Cherie, Agnes, Bonefish, Willie, Cookie, Israel, Roosevelt Nixon (aka two presidents) and Austin (aka 'chicken and fries') are a few of the other great folks we have met in this part of the Exumas.

Smashie with his boat, "Smashie"